External pump installation tips

[the_deeb]

I bought a Velocity T3 to power my Nu-clear canisters.

Haven't run it yet but so far I'm very pleased with the apparent build quality. I'm looking for some suggestions on pump installation.

The notches make me think I should screw/bolt it onto something. I don't want to attach it directly to my stand so I'm thinking of building a small platform to attach it to. Is it sufficient to just attach it to the platform on the bottom or should I also build the platform so it attaches to the side?

I want to minimize the chance of potential vibration and noise so what material should I use for dampening? Should this material go between the pump and the platform or between the platform and the stand (or both)?

I've heard that these things can run pretty hot (the trade off for being silent) so I'm thinking of rigging up a small cpu fan that will attach to the platform and blow onto the pump. I'm not really worried about overheating my tank water but am more concerned with maximizing the life of the pump. Do you think the fan addition is a worthwhile idea? Does it matter what direction/orientation it blows in?

Regarding plumbing, I'm using bushings to scale up the 3/4" inputs and outputs to 1" immediately. I'm putting a true union ball valve on the inlet so I can isolate it and remove it without having to drain the tank. The ball valve is plumbed into 1" vinyl which leads to the tank bulkheads. The pump outlet leads directly to the first canister via 1" vinyl.

I'd appreciate pics of how you've got your external pumps set up and any other suggestions you may have.

 

[CA-Delta]

Sounds like you've thought it through well.
Depending on how well vented the enclosure is I think the fan is probably overkill.
That is an odd looking mounting bracket. If the pump balances well on the bracket I wouldn't bolt it down at all. Instead use a piece of rubber or dense foam the same size as the mount. The less you restrict natural air movement around the motor housing the cooler it will run.

 

[the_deeb]

The pump balances ok by itself, but when you factor in all the additional plumbing I think the weighting is probably going to be off so I'll probably try to bolt it down.

I've got a bunch of extruded styrofoam left over from my DIY background build. Would that work for noise dampening? I don't know how safe it is to use under potentially hot conditions.

 

[CA-Delta]

Keep in mind that if the fasteners contact the motor base and the mounting surface at the same time the noise/vibration will be transmitted to the cabinet.
Perhaps attaching the motor to a small piece (6" x 12") of plywood and setting this on your styrofoam would work.

 

[the_deeb]

Yeah, I was planning on just screwing it to the platform (not to the cabinet itself). I guess I'll just stick some foam between the platform and cabinet.

 

[jcardona1]

I usually mount mine to a small sheet of plywood, or some 2x4s, depending on how high I need the pump to sit. I doubt a fan is needed....